It’s an ODI World Cup year, so, as usual, Mitchell Starc has turned up his beast mode. The left-arm Australian fast bowler who was the leading wicket-taker in the last two ODI World Cups has made his first warning ahead of the tournament this year, in India, through two blockbuster spells of searing pace and prodigious movement against the World Cup 2023 favorites – India.
His two opening new-ball spells read: 6-0-24-3 in Mumbai and 6-1-31-4 in Visakhapatnam. None of the Indian batter barely had any clue on how to deal with these spells. Suryakumar Yadav certainly did not: Yadav got two almost-unplayable deliveries and was dismissed for first-ball ducks in both ODIs.
Left-arm, high pace, swinging and seaming it in both directions; Mitchell Starc is perhaps the deadliest, the most difficult to play, white-ball fast bowler when the conditions are helpful even a little bit.
So, how do the Indian batters deal with Mitchell Starc’s menacing new-ball spells?
Former India left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan feels that the Indian top-order should approach it like a Test match: instead of playing to score runs – Rohit and Gill played loose shots outside their bodies and got caught via thick edges – they should only look to survive and play conservatively, take their time, endure the pressure, against Starc in the first powerplay in ODIs.
“How do we approach Mitchell Starc’s form? Well, you just approach it like a Test match. You just have to make sure that you put that responsibility on the top three batters. It’s their responsibility to ensure that they find a way in the first 10-12 overs,” Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz.
“It’s about absorbing pressure and coming up with solutions. I know there’s less time, but you’ve got to come up with those answers. The bowler is in form, hit tail is up and he is going to throw everything at you.”
Veteran Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik reckons even the net bowlers aren’t good enough to prepare the Indian batters to face the likes of Starc and Shaheen. Karthik also had some sympathies for Suryakumar Yadav.
“I can promise you, India travel with certain amount of bowlers for nets. There are enough left-arm medium pacers. It is one thing playing in the nets, the skill has goes behind a Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult, Mitchell Starc… it’s different boss. If the bowler had the skill, he would be playing for India! Why would he be bowling in the nets? It is not a easily skill. Add to that, you playing international cricket… it’s a different ball game,” Karthik said.
“They got Ashwin doppelganger, he was still the highest wicket-taker. Just because you bring somebody who is similar… it only helps you try to understand on what you could probably face. If Mitchell Starc is bowling 145-147 and swinging the ball late, it is a tough skill to play.”
“Imagine Suryakumar Yadav… I feel for him, two first-balls, I’m sure a lot of people will be saying, ‘Oh, he’s not making use of his opportunities’. It’s not true. To get out first ball means you are out before you’re set. It can happen to anybody! He’s arguably the best white ball bowler in the world right now. To come and receive such balls first up, it’s hard. You put anybody there, more often than not, they will get out first ball. We need to cut some slack for batters who get out to quality left-armers,” added Karthik.
